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Getting into SJO in the AM of the 19th.

19-22nd Dunn
22-25th Cocal (Jaco)
25-27th Dunn

Will be trying, if I'm not too drunk or hungover, to get away from the gulch during the the San Jose days to see the sights. I'm going to make sure to wear Board shorts and flip flops everywhere I go and not shave my scrotum. Just joshing. I have read through the plethora that is CRT and have found a ton of helpful info. My concern is some of it may be dated. What are your favorite places to eat within walking distance or short taxi ride from the Dunn Inn? Is this El Pueblo place worth checking out? From what I've read it's an assortment of shops and bars in a small area.. Can get pretty crazy at night? Any recent (within the last 3 weekends or so) updates on weekend fun at the hotel Cocal in Jaco? Crackerass reported April 30th as it being just okay.. Last thing, generally speaking how would you describe what to expect weather wise in late June. I'm going to do my best to dress appropriately, but being drenched in sweat after walking a few blocks isn't cool at all. Thanks in advance.

Alex I will be down the same time also arriving the 19th. I am staying at La Amistad. They are running an amazing special for CRT members. The weather at that time is usually Sunny in the AM and starts raining by 2-3 in the afternoon-it is rainy season. You might want to bring along a small umbrella but otherwise. spring clothing should be fine. Re El Pueblo it can be fun depending on what you are into. Bringing a wing man would be an advantage especially being it's your 1st time there. Is this your 1st time in Latin America or just CR? RE restaurants Soda Peru is nearby and is really good but. Check out the Restaurant Recommendation section of this board for info on that and others-using posts from only the past few months as a guide - things change quickly. I would be happy to meet up for a drink while there and answer any question or provide info. Let me know -
BTW - You really should join as a VIP member it is amazing how much it saves you in no time.
Be Well and Welcome to the club.

I stayed at the Dunn Inn for the first time on my last trip and really liked it. It's kind of arms-length from the core PFP scene, although certainly chica-friendly - they have a 10% room discount and chica fees waived for CRT VIPs. The staff is very nice, including at Rick's Bar that adjoins the hotel. Big sports bar but not usually very busy, the occasional chica shows up there but you mostly have to arrange for that yourself. The restaurant also has a small bar and the food's supposed to be pretty good; I only ate there once, for breakfast. The NF and HLH are only two blocks from there, so not a lot of work to get to places to hole up on those rainy afternoons.

In general the gulch is pretty quiet from the street, except right around the Del Ray - Key Largo complex, which is maybe six-seven blocks from your hotel, the activity is really behind closed doors, and you kind of have to figure out where things are there. Food is easy in SJO, although you need to range a bit farther to take it all in. I mostly like eating the indigenous stuff, so try a lot of places, ranging from the sodas in mercado central to Nuestra Tierra on Ave 2, which is a bit pricy. There's one place up the hill on the south side of Ave 5 just off the park that I like for breakfast, it's fairly big and seems to cater to business types and the like, not too touristy, food's pretty good and surprisingly cheap; just can't recall the name, though. Lots of places to eat and explore on Ave Central, the main downtown pedestrian walkway.

It's worth getting out some morning before the rain and talking a walk out to San Pedro, where the university is. The neighborhoods are pretty nice and interesting along the way, nothing unsafe, and you'll get a feel for at least part of the place that way. In general you're going to find the climate very comfortable in SJO; the only time it can get hot is in the afternoon, and that really doesn't happen if it's clouding over as is typical. The climate there was the biggest surprise to me on my first trip, which was last August. Well, that and the Dominicanas...

Jaco is hotter, but you'll likely be getting the same weather effect, and it's a beach town so you dress accordingly. Last time I was there was in February, and didn't find out about the Cocal scene until the day I left. My impression has been that it's the evening starting point but shuts down kind of early, and the chicas then disburse to dance at Monkey, Orange, Le Loft; Beatle Bar is dead. Jaco Taco is probably the best place for really late, like 3am and beyond. But there are chicas all over that town, and you can meet someone almost anywhere, any time - but you can't count on it either, it's not like going shopping in SJO.

Oh, and to me the most irritating thing in both towns are the trannies on the street, who are very aggressive and you don't want to even get near them, so do steer well clear. And I arrive at DI the day after you leave, so don't destroy the bed!

_________________
Hispanic bombs, on to Costa Rica
I'm flyin' in on a DC-10 tonight
Hispanic bombs, yo te quiero infinito
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazon
Hispanic bombs shatter the hotels
My senorita's rose was nipped in the bud
Hispanic bombs, yo te quiero infinito
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazon...

Thanks for the speedy and informative reply guys.

SkyxChef, This is my first time in Latin America, really looking forward to it. Most of my mongering experience comes from the other side of the globe. The only reason I haven't purchased the VIP membership is because of my mail situation where I am currently located. I didn't think it would arrive by the time I leave here and the information (from 2010) regarding picking it up in SJ said see Boyd at the Dunn Inn, it's my understanding he has moved on to bigger and better things (HLH). It's my loss. I think the discount from the hotel alone would easily cover the price of the card. Might be interesting to see how much I would save with the card versus without.. Also, when booking the Dunn they did ask if I had the card, so I suspect they are still honoring it. They also are going to charge me $39/nt above the price quoted on the website...

House, Without the card do you know what the Dunn Inn chica fee is? Don't worry about the bed...

Soda Peru is very close to the Dunn Inn and a real winner for food. Try it out.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

Alex,
I received my VIP card in less than a week by mail. Also I think there is a place in SJ that you can pick up your Card. Search the threads.

Sorry, I will miss you as I leave on the 16th. Have a great trip.

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" When I was born, I was given a choice - a big pecker or a good memory.....I don't remember what I chose."

Alex below is info on paying for and picking up the card for a one year membership in San Jose. I prepaid last year and picked it up at Dunn Inn from Boyd and converted to Lifetime this year by mail. The card arrived in about a week.

[b]""You may pay and receive your card at two places in San Jose. Hotel Dunn Inn (See Boyd) and Reception desk Sportsmen's Lodge."[/b]

You can do it at the Sportsman Lodge as soon as you arrive and still be able to use it right away. Honestly it saved me hundreds the first trip that I had it. For instance I am saving 50% off at La Amistad (June Special) (Comes to about $43 per night for 8 nights which is about 350 bucks and I am not a high roller.. 10% of all food and beverage at Sportmens Lodge, $10 of a session at Hotel Little Havana-And you will want to session there.GREAT PLACE!!. as well as many restaurants, Jaco hotel discounts ECT ECT. Dunn Inn does not charge chica fee as CRT member Nor does Amistad Castillo or Sportsmans Lodge. Dunn Inn or HLH as well as the others listed all honor the card- It really will be the best $39 you will ever spend. What time does your flight arrive. I get In about 11am. PM me if you have questions or anything I will be more than glad to help in any way that I can.

I believe it's $5 per nipple, but I'm not sure, I showed the card and it was all good. That alone paid for the annual membership over a long weekend there. I know on my Feb/Mar birthday trip, my first with a membership, I save over $200 on room rates and chica fees, between Sportsmen's, Poseidon and HLH. Don't think I ever used it for food or drinks (or girls), just the bigger stuff. And of course, in the words of Tail-Gunner Joe, it makes you a card-carrying member of the, etc., etc...

_________________
Hispanic bombs, on to Costa Rica
I'm flyin' in on a DC-10 tonight
Hispanic bombs, yo te quiero infinito
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazon
Hispanic bombs shatter the hotels
My senorita's rose was nipped in the bud
Hispanic bombs, yo te quiero infinito
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazon...

Alex,
I'll be arriving on the late night flight with my brother and another wing. 2 of the 3 of us are CR Vets. (5-6 times a year) This is an annual summer trip where we bring our sons for eco-adventure, they don't hang with us at night. LOL As for D inn, I can only tell you that all reports are good, it's comfortable, chica friendly and close to the action but as stated, a VIP membership is well worth the cost. You'll have it back in 2 days.
Food is everywhere, in places where gringos frequent, it's more expensive, in places primarily reserved for ticos, muy barato! Casino Colonial offers a lunch buffet for like 5 bucks thats pretty good, Sportsmens offers some really good dishes, I prefer the plato typico de pollo or typical plate of chicken. It's a grilled chicken breast, rice, beans and a small salad for like 5 bucks. Chubbs has some pretty good dishes too, cold beer and is reasonable. Pizza and fast food places are abundant on avenido central so I don't think you'll have a problem.
As for El Pueblo, alot depends on your age and what you like. It tends to be a younger persons venue (18-25) with a variety of music and dancing. Going with a chica or a group can be a blast if you like to drink and dance. If you fall in the above mentioned age range, then hit it solo but speaking Spanish is a definite plus albeit not a necessity. If you're older and looking only for p4p to party and dance, stick to Key Largo as it's "shooting fish in a barrel" without the worries of offending some "tough guy" young tico when the girls are liking you cause you can afford to buy them drinks.
Castros bar is fun with or wthout a date, I've gone with both and had a good time. Kareoke upstairs and dancing downstairs, good mix of locals and tourists but alot of "paired up" couples so a date has been better in my experience.
Bar Elvis is a Kareoke bar, alot of the chicas enjoy this place, if you can sing and like Kareoke, take a chica there. If she can sing and likes Kareoke, "take a chica there". LOL Always had a good time there.
Jaco is a good getaway, I was there in March and walked into the Cocal and was blown away! Poolside about 9pm reminded me a Spring break in Ft lauderdale except with older guys and all women were AVAILABLE! Unfortunately for me, I was with my novia who was none to happy that I knew about this place. The gathering of women seemed mostly Colombian but there Ticas and Nicas and Dominicans too. It seemed to me the Beatle Bar had priced itself out of "good" business. Cocal is now the Del Rey of the Beach but at night. The other mentioned places "le loft, jaco Taco" etc were all good too but drinks were pricey, I almost felt I was on South Beach with the 5 dollar beers and 8 dollar drinks. Jaco is a cool place, although it's changed over the years with development, it's kind of "sin city" on the beach. I like it to break up my trip and get out of the gulch, hang on the beach, surf etc. You're good in shorts, a tee and flip flops everywhere there.
My plan with my group is to do night 1 and 2 in San Jose, we're going to whitewater raft Weds the 20th from SJO on the Pacuare, leave Thursday the 21st for Jaco and Bungee jump along the way, ATV on Friday from Quepos, Surf Saturday and return to San Jose Sunday to party until I leave Weds.
I'll be staying at Amistad as SL couldnt accommodate me this time, theyre both awsome places, I'll be in SL the night of the 20th around 8, 6'1" gringo, late 40's with a Goatee, jeans and a ball cap with 1 or 2 guys. It's my brothers first ever visit so I'll be a tour guide for the trip. LOL If you see us, say hello.
I'm sure it will go well, if you have any questions, PM me and i'm glad to help.
Pura Vida Amigo,

Jac

Arriving on June 19th-24 as well, coming in from Ft. Lauderdale @ 11am.

If either Alex or Sky would to share a ride into town, hit me with a PM or here fine to.

Not sure of my hotel res. as yet, most likley the HLH or SL? its all good.

See you there!

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orbis terrarum est meus meretricis.